Exhibition curator Catherine Czerw collected genuine original Coolgardie safes from museums and historical societies around the state and invited 28 artists to create art to go in them around the theme of WA Heritage week which is "Amazing stories, innovation and invention".

As a uniquely Western Australian invention, the safes fit the bill perfectly, Ms Czerw says.

"It's a galvanised tin frame with hessian sides. Then the last part is a metal tray or a metal tin with a dripper, filled with water, and the idea was that the water dripped down over the hession."

"You placed the safe in a breezy space and that created a convection, so inside the safe was cooler than outside."

"It's a very rudimentary structure, but no one of these 32 safes is anything like another."

One safe has been decorated as a shrine to the Guildford Hotel, which was gutted by fire three years ago and is now the focus of a passionate local campaign to preserve the building.

Another highlights the now forgotten 'Ugly Men's Association', which formed in 1917 to raise funds support veterans from the first world war.

A name was chosen as humorous take on the beauty contest fundraisers of the time and which continued until 1934, supporting hospitals and orphanages in Perth.

One Coolgardie safe has also been set up at the exhibition as a demonstration for children. Fresh fruit will be kept in the safe and given out to visitors to how well the cooling does (or doesn't) work.

Safe Keeping is on show at Perth Town Hall, Lower Foyer Cnr Barrack and Hay Streets, until May 18.